DIA and MHRA announce speaker line-up for inaugural global summit

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Drug Information Association (DIA) will host the inaugural DIA-MHRA Global Summit in London this November, bringing together senior figures from regulatory authorities, pharmaceutical companies, health technology firms, academic institutions, and patient groups. The event, scheduled for 16 and 17 November 2026, aligns with London Life Sciences Week and aims to foster international cooperation on healthcare innovation while maintaining patient safety and public trust.

The Summit will feature discussions on regulatory innovation, advanced therapies, artificial intelligence, health data, rare diseases, and investment in life sciences, with a theme of "Global Collaboration for Safer and Smarter Health Innovation." Speakers include senior executives from GSK, AstraZeneca, IQVIA, BioNTech, and MSD, alongside regulators from agencies such as the US FDA, Swissmedic, and Health Canada, alongside representatives from HM Government.

Patient perspectives will be central to the programme, with contributions from advocates including Julia Vitarello (Mila’s Miracle Foundation), Emily Reuben OBE (Duchenne UK), and Nick Meade (Genetic Alliance UK). Sessions will also cover digital transformation, in silico trials, and real-world data, featuring experts from Microsoft, Oracle Health, and academic institutions like the University of Birmingham.

The event will include networking opportunities and early insights into significant MHRA announcements outlining the agency’s ambitions for regulatory science and innovation. Investment and growth in the life sciences sector will be explored by leading investors and policy experts, including Dame Kate Bingham (SV Health Investors) and Lord Willetts, Chair of the Regulatory Innovation Office.